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FPMT Community: Stories & News
Arunas Antanaitas, photo courtesy of Arunas’ Facebook page.
Arunas Antanaitas, 62, passed away peacefully on Vesak, May 5, 2023 in Dundas, Ontario, Canada, of cancer.
Arunas had embarked on his cancer journey 17 months prior with grace, dignity, and a contagiously positive outlook. His last days were filled with prayers, surrounded by his loved ones. Arunas will be remembered for his compassion, love of conversation, propensity for playfulness, and unwavering desire to help others.
Arunas served as the center director for Lama Yeshe Ling, seeing the center transform from a meeting place in his and Sharon’s basement studio to hosting our resident teacher Geshe Sonam Ngodrup (Geshe Sega) and Tibetan language interpreter Venerable Jamyang Khedrup. Our community supported Arunas in his wish to serve as director until his last breath, with Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s last advice to Arunas being for him to rejoice in his having served Rinpoche in this way. During his illness, Arunas was able to fulfill all of Rinpoche’s advice, along with the support of our community. For example, Geshe Sonam conveyed the Amitayus Long Life initiation, we did many group recitations of the long life sutra, and an animal liberation. A month earlier, Khensur Rinpoche Lobsang Delek taught at Lama Yeshe Ling and conferred the initiation into Arunas’ main practice. Khensur Rinpoche remarked that he was impressed that Arunas attended every event despite it being so very clear that Arunas was very weak and in pain.
In one of the last letters to Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Arunas asked if Rinpoche agreed with the doctor’s view that he had now become ‘palliative’. Rinpoche’s reply was: “a good practitioner is always palliative”. Arunas had discussed and coached his family and the hospice staff about the Buddhist view and practice of dying, and everyone was supportive of how he wished to die. They found a hospice that supported leaving his body undisturbed for three days. At the hospice, Geshe Sonam and Khedrup came to visit, as well as fellow practitioners several times coming together to meditate and pray. Moments after Arunas’ last breath, Geshe la, Khedrup la, and a small group of sangha and family performed the Guru Puja, with Geshe la leading us in visualizing Arunas receiving the four initiations, and the dissolution of the guru in the heart.
One of the palliative care nurses mentioned that everyone she had cared for there was afraid of death, as was she. It was remarkable for her to observe that Arunas was not afraid, and neither were the people around him. Arunas wanted to live longer, and he did everything possible to do so, for he had more he wanted to offer. It is sad that this good person is no longer with us here. However we know this isn’t the end, and we pray that Arunas finds the way to manifest again as a good person, to connect very early with the Dharma, and continue his path of service to the guru for the benefit of beings.
Please pray that Arunas may never ever be reborn in the lower realms, may he be immediately born in a pure land where he can be enlightened or to receive a perfect human body, meet the Mahayana teachings and meet a perfectly qualified guru and by only pleasing the guru’s mind, achieve enlightenment as quickly as possible. More advice from Lama Zopa Ripoche on death and dying is available, see Death and Dying: Practices and Resources (fpmt.org/death/).
To read more obituaries from the international FPMT mandala, and to find information on submission guidelines, please visit our new Obituaries page (fpmt.org/media/obituaries/).
Front of the FPMT Office in the Debate Courtyard of Namygyal Monastery, Mcleod Ganj, India.
Joyous preparations are underway for the long life puja that will be offered by the FPMT organization to His Holiness the Dalai Lama at Namgyal Monastery, Mcleod Ganj on May 24. Hundreds of statues are being filled, tormas made, consecration pujas for the statues offered, and extensive offerings prepared.
The Kopan monks and nuns are working so hard– we offer them tremendous thanks and also grateful thanks to the hard work of Geshe Ngawang Sangye and to Tushita Meditation Centre for all the kindness hosting and taking care in so many ways. This is also possible thanks to the kindness of generosity of all the donors, volunteers, and whole FPMT family. May all the prayers of the puja be actualized!
We also have very wonderful news for FPMT students who are gathering from all over the world for the long life puja!
His Holiness has accepted to give an audience to FPMT students at His Holiness’s residence in Mcleod Ganj on May 25.
FPMT Office located in the Namygyal Monastery debate courtyard.
The audience will start at 7a.m., so please gather at the entrance to the palace (which is behind the Namygyal Monastery debate courtyard) at 6.30 a.m. Everyone will need a security pass. Those sitting inside the temple or in the offering procession for the long life puja can use the same security passes.
Other FPMT students will need and be able to get a security pass from the FPMT office in the debate courtyard (please see photo). You will need to bring your passport with your Indian visa, and a passport photo. These security passes will need to be obtained by the 24th at the latest.
We recently shared the text that will be used in this long life puja for His Holiness. All are welcome to download this text and follow along during the event.
You can follow important news about His Holiness the Dalai Lama on the official website of His Holiness:
https://www.dalailama.com/news
Lama Zopa Rinpoche in Nepal, March 27, 2023. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.
We have a lot to share in this month’s e-news.
We have compiled information about all of the new resources, web pages, event updates, and important information shared since Lama Zopa Rinpoche showed the aspect of passing away on April 13, 2023.
We hope this will serve students well to access all that is available, including:
- Recent updates from FPMT International Office
- Practices for Rinpoche’s Swift Return
- Tributes and condolences received
- Information about the upcoming Long Life Puja for His Holiness the Dalai Lama
- FPMT Statement in Support of His Holiness
- Important dates and events
- Updates from within the FPMT community
Please read this month’s e-news in its entirety.
Have the e-News translated into your native language by using our convenient translation facility located on the right-hand side of the page.
Visit our subscribe page to receive the monthly FPMT International Office e-News directly in your email inbox.
International IMI Sangha offering prayers each day in front of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s holy body, Kopan Monastery, Nepal, April 21, 2023. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.
“It’s simply impossible to express how beautiful it is in Rinpoche’s room right now,” Ven. Sarah Thresher shared on her Facebook page from Kopan Monastery on May 4, 2023, two weeks after Lama Zopa Rinpoche showed the aspect of passing away on April 13, 2023. “Kopan has done everything to make it the most extraordinarily beautiful and breathtaking offering for Rinpoche. I hope you all will have a chance to visit in the future and appreciate the love and devotion and majesty of Rinpoche’s mandala. I have watched this transformation over the past two weeks and I’m so grateful.”
We are so fortunate that Ven. Sarah took the time to share what it has been like at Kopan during this devastating and moving time. With Ven. Sarah’s permission, we are sharing some of the detailed reports she has written about how “every inch of Kopan” has been in prayer and service as several thousand individuals have come to pay respects to Rinpoche and process this immense loss. The supportive and kind atmosphere, impeccable coordination and handling of logistics, and the care and detail needed for Kopan to receive and care for hundreds of guests from around the world daily—this effort at a time of losing the guru is something to truly consider and rejoice in.
We have kept Ven. Sarah’s entries dated so readers can appreciate how the events were being experienced in real time.
April 23, 2023: It All Happened So Fast!
I was at Kopan shortly after Rinpoche arrived back from Tsum—having received a cryptic message that it was “very important” I come up immediately. When I arrived at the monastery it was strangely quiet and I wondered around trying to find somebody to talk to—at the same time messaging a friend in Tsum to see if I could get some clues. When I reached the stupa garden I met some people I knew in shock and gradually the truth started to be revealed…
It all happened so fast! Those early hours were confused and the initial days were a time of shock, disbelief and grieving. We didn’t definitively know what had happened that day until the email from Ven. Roger was sent out—so that was roughly the same time as everyone else around the world found out. We knew that Rinpoche had returned from Tsum, there was an emergency situation and the news was bad—but nobody wanted to express the words that would make things clear. We were simply told that “Rinpoche was in meditation… His Holiness says Rinpoche has not yet gone.”
That first afternoon monks gathered for a Cittamani Tara puja in a strangely empty main gompa joined by a handful of Westerners. It was quite surreal—hard to believe this was actually happening. Kopan was full of new people attending an introductory course, which was gradually cancelled as nobody had the will to teach any more.
The second day we began to do Tara prayers at the Chenrezig gompa in English. His Holiness’ immediate advice had been to do Cittamani Tara Four Mandalas. We were still just a few people as many of the usual residents at Kopan were gone. A lot of time those first few days was taken up responding to messages from around the world and encouraging people to come if that was in their heart, even though we had no idea how things would unfold. It was hard to sleep or eat. The mobile phones were “ringing off the hook” and that added to the tension and distress.
Chittamani Tara puja in Kopan Moanstery gompa, Nepal, April 17, 2023. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.
By the fourth day people from the introductory course had mainly left and Rinpoche’s students were starting to arrive from around the world. By now, we had a full schedule of prayers in the Chenrezig gompa. The day began with Rinpoche’s morning motivation and 35 Buddhas’ prostrations before breakfast, then Lama Chopa Jorcho before lunch, Cittamani Tara Four Mandalas in the afternoon, and Vajrasattva practice with dedication prayers after dinner. Of course there were prayers in the main gompa all day long with the Kopan monks and nuns but everything was in Tibetan and chanted very fast so it was hard to follow. Ven. Roger had requested a program for English speakers as well.
Interspersed with the prayers we began small group sessions for people to share about how they met Rinpoche, what Rinpoche meant to them, how they heard the news, and how they felt going forwards. This was very healing, moving and inspiring. When Osel Rinpoche arrived he agreed to come and talk to us. He told us not to focus on the loss but on the gratitude for everything we had received—then we would always feel Rinpoche in our hearts. It was powerful advice.
The monks and nuns of Kopan were extremely impressive. From the moment Rinpoche entered into the final meditation mandalas, torma, and all the necessary materials were assembled and a rota of shifts manifested so that the prayers in the room next to Rinpoche’s holy body were unceasing day and night. As the days unfolded and more and more people arrived, it felt as if every inch of Kopan was in prayer. Upstairs there could be different groups of tantric monks and high lamas and heart disciples in prayer in the different rooms at Rinpoche’s apartment, while down in the main gompa monks and nuns packed into the space to do extensive prayer sessions and recitations. Outside in the debate courtyard there was tea and snacks for visitors; and groups were coming to do their own very moving practices to pay tribute to Rinpoche. Meanwhile the young monks huddled together to recite mani mantras and we internationals were following our own schedule in the Chenrezig gompa.
Students doing prayers for the swift return of Lama Zopa Rinpoche in the Chenrezig gompa. April 21, 2023. Photo by Capucine
Redon.
It was so moving to see the high lamas who, from their own side, immediately flew in to Nepal to do prayers, the many students from around the world, and masters and disciples from other traditions come up from the valley to pray and practice out of respect for such a great holy being.
Also incredible has been the generous sharing of images of Rinpoche in meditation and livestream of the continual prayers and the tributes and long life prayers, which meant that people all over the world could feel connected to Rinpoche and what was happening here.
Young monks in prayer at Kopan Monastery. Photo by Alison Murdoch.
We are now on the 11th day. The extraordinary abundance of pujas all over Kopan has calmed. Prayers are still held at Rinpoche’s holy body non-stop. Our retreat schedule of prayers for the international students continues and now in the afternoon we split up into three groups: one in the Chenrezig gompa doing Tara puja, one at the Boudha Stupa offering room doing the extensive offering practice, and one that does prayers in English advised by Khen Rinpoche Geshe Chonyi at Rinpoche’s holy body.
We have a routine to facilitate reflection on lamrim as Khadro-la advised, people are being so kind and supportive to each other, and outside caterers make sure we are well fed and nourished. People are coming from around the world for a day, two days, a week, a month, as they wish to pray and pay respect to our most incredibly cherished and kind Spiritual Guide, to make sense of this great loss and reflect on the future. I see people arrive in tears and leave with laughter and a renewed sense of commitment to continue and fulfil whatever advice Rinpoche has given.
My heart aches for those who were not able to meet with Rinpoche. Those of us who did will always cherish our time spent together and the teachings we received. I can only hope that we can communicate some of that extraordinary blessing to others.
May Rinpoche quickly return in a new incarnation to guide us, and may we all continue his most incredible work, complete the projects, abide purely in our commitments, and always be most pleasing to the Spiritual Guide.
May 2, 2023: Twenty Days of Sorrow, Twenty Days of Gratitude
It’s been twenty days now since Rinpoche suddenly left us—twenty days of sorrow, twenty days of continual prayers and practices, twenty days of offerings and twenty days of unending gratitude for having met Rinpoche and all we have received.
Upon hearing the initial news, many people’s hearts turned to Kopan. The early days were filled with pujas and prayers in every corner of Kopan with many monks and nuns and locals. Then, within days, people were flying in from around the world to pay respect to Rinpoche and gather for prayers and practice. That has been truly inspiring—as Rinpoche used to say before we would offer long life puja, “The prayers the lama does for the disciple have great power and the prayers the disciples do for the lama have great power.”
Kopan senior monks and Lama Gyupas offering prayers in front of Rinpoche’s holy body, Kopan Monastery, April 22, 2023. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.
Now all that busy-ness has calmed. There is still continual practice at Rinpoche’s holy body by different groups throughout the day and night which is livestreamed for all to share. The Kopan tantric monks do Yamantaka self-initiation early morning, the Thame monks from Solu Khumbu do Chenrezig practice early afternoon, the Westerners do various prayers late afternoon, and the Kopan nuns do Vajrayogini self-initiation every evening. There is also all-day Heruka Lama Chopa Tsog every 7th day with the monks and nuns and lay people coming together. Additionally, people are always welcome to come and offer khata to Rinpoche’s holy body and make prayers and circumambulate as these practices are happening. The mandala house where Rinpoche’s holy body is kept becomes more and more beautiful every day. There are silver bowls and butter lamps, banners and parasols and pennants and silk khatas, pearls and food and incense and flowers all around. The sacred and blessed energy in Rinpoche’s room—the place where in recent years Rinpoche spent most of the time—is palpable.
As things begin to calm, many of the visitors who initially arrived are now leaving and we international guests have trimmed down our “retreat-style” practices to a morning session of Lama Chopa Jorcho and an afternoon session of Cittamani Tara or other prayers with occasional pilgrimages. Those who leave express gratitude for the time spent here—the sharing, the opportunity to be part of this gathering of disciples and the blessing of feeling Rinpoche’s presence, and also the hope for the future.
Last week Yangsi Rinpoche very kindly agreed to talk to us before leaving Kopan—though not to be recorded. It took the aspect—as I perceived it—of a profound sharing from a highly accomplished disciple to us newbies—and I hope its okay to share just a few of my reflections on what Rinpoche said—though not everything.
Yangsi Rinpoche offering prayers at Kopan Monastery, April 20, 2023. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.
Yangsi Rinpoche spoke about how we should consider ourselves most fortunate to have actually met Rinpoche—as Rinpoche will now take a place in history as one of the great masters. Up to now we have been carried along by Rinpoche’s great compassion and vast enlightened activity, but the free ride is over. Now it’s time to repay that kindness. We owe it to Rinpoche to continue the work he began and particularly to take responsibility for Rinpoche’s main project—to free us from our self-cherishing and self-grasping. Yangsi Rinpoche expressed that yes pujas and prayers are good—but if we can reduce our self-cherishing and self-grasping for even a second it is the best offering and Rinpoche will shower us with flowers and cheesecake from the pure lands!
Yangsi Rinpoche also mentioned that Westerners have a unique karmic connection with Lama Yeshe and Rinpoche. Just as we read about previous buddhas making prayers to benefit different beings at different times, it seems Lama and Rinpoche made prayers to benefit the hippies in degenerate times! There are other highly qualified lamas but we didn’t have the connection with them—it was Rinpoche and Lama that brought us onto the path. Therefore, we have a particular responsibility and owe it to Rinpoche to repay the kindness—to reduce the thought that we are the center of the universe and everything is about me, me, me and instead work for others.
Rinpoche has given us enough teachings for several lifetimes. It’s not necessary to go and find another guru—we already have what we need. Now we owe it to Rinpoche to practice and internalize what we have received. And, as for Rinpoche, he is now everywhere—free from the limitations of the physical body.
Ven. Roger Kunsang giving talk to the International Sangha and students explaining the details around Lama Zopa Rinpoche showing aspect of passing away, April 28, 2023. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.
Ven. Roger also came one night to talk to us after returning from a meeting with His Holiness Dalai Lama in Dharamsala. He walked us through what had happened leading up to and then on the actual day that Rinpoche left us. It was quite emotional for many of us listening and also not to be shared. There is a video of the meeting with His Holiness now available for all to view and His Holiness clearly says that he will take personal responsibility to check for Rinpoche’s reincarnation—there is great hope for the future.
The prayers will continue here at Kopan until May 31 when many people are expected to join for the final puja. I hope all of you will rejoice and join with us in supporting what the monastery is doing. Thank you.
May 6, 2023: We Wait, We Pray, We Continue—We Try to Repay The Kindness
Outside the Kopan gates people continue to arrive from around the valley and further by taxi, by car, by scooter, by plane, walking—visiting the beautiful mandala that has become Kopan to pay respects to the crown jewel—our most precious lama. They are greeted by the nuns in the debate courtyard at tables with snacks and chai before winding their way upstairs to Rinpoche’s room.
Rinpoche who continuously prayed during his lifetime to benefit those who saw, touched, or even thought about him—continues to do so after passing. He gave his holy body to us while he was alive and left it for us now that he is gone—always showing the most extraordinary activity of a great bodhisattva. I cannot express enough my gratitude to HE Ling Rinpoche for advising us to keep and preserve Rinpoche’s holy body—every atom of which is a pure holy relic. We can also receive and treasure blessed salt from the embalming process as a holy relic.
Upstairs two nuns are stringing Swarovski pearls flown in from Singapore with local precious stones to adorn Rinpoche’s mandala house. A few days ago the old mandala house was replaced by a new cabinet made by the carpenters and painted by the local artists. There are now silks and brocades, pennants, banners, umbrella, khatas, fruits, flowers, silver bowls, lights, and an extraordinary beautiful display of offerings that adorn the new mandala house. It’s simply not possible to describe the sacred energy in Rinpoche’s rooms where prayers continue to take place around the clock and visitors stream by to pay respect. People will usually sit and join the prayers for a short while before leaving with their choice of photo of different shots of Rinpoche—each one beautiful and printed with the slogans we have come to know and love below Rinpoche’s image—“Live with compassion, work with compassion, meditate with compassion, die with compassion, enjoy with compassion…” “Less desire means less pain…” etc.
The normal schedule for us internationals is relaxed today as we just completed an all-night Tara practice—the Tara Purification Ritual. Tara practice was recommended by His Holiness Dalai Lama within the first hours of Rinpoche entering meditation and this Tara night practice was composed by Rinpoche’s other root guru His Holiness Trijang Rinpoche. We have been doing Tara continuously but last night took the opportunity of the lunar eclipse to stay up and praise, prostrate, make offerings, and circumambulate Tara from sunset to sunrise. It was a special night. The Tara altar was set up in the Chenrezig gompa but people could also circumambulate in the stupa garden where trees of lights offered by Chinese students over the past years illuminate the holy objects—and all of this as Rinpoche’s holy voice sang out the Twenty-one Tara Praises for us to follow.
Light offerings by students at Swayambhunath Stupa, April 23, 2023. Photo by Bec French.
The mood at Kopan is good. So many people have flown in for just a few days and left uplifted. Rinpoche is so present everywhere and of course we feel him at the heart center of the FPMT—Kopan—where it all began. But those who fly in also go on pilgrimage to the other holy places in the valley—the three great stupas, the special White Tara, Pharping and so on—to offer prayers. Some have even made the trip up to Lawudo to sit and pray in Rinpoche’s cave and gompa.
A week or so ago, Ven. Roger gave a talk about the events around Rinpoche leaving us. Nobody expected this or could have anticipated it. It was a last final teaching to cut our habitual concept and clinging to permanence. At the end I asked him about the advice for the future. He replied: “The advice is simple—we continue the work Rinpoche has done. We repay the kindness.”
And so we wait, we pray, we continue. Nobody can take the place of Rinpoche except Rinpoche’s next incarnation. However long that takes, none of us have been left with our hands empty—there are so many projects and centers to benefit others. Over half a century Rinpoche has given so much advice, so many teachings and practices. When Rinpoche returns, instead of having to subdue barbarian and hippie Westerners to bring them on to the path for their own and others’ ultimate benefit, let’s hope we are ready to go. As Rinpoche said at a CPMT meeting some years back—FPMT has not begun yet. There is nothing but hope for the future.
May 11, 2023: Kindness and Support
Yesterday was the fourth week since Rinpoche entered the final meditation. It’s been an intensive time for everyone but there has also been so much kindness and support.
From the beginning Kopan has focused on the prayers for Rinpoche and the guests who come to pay respect and participate. Within days, the monastery was welcoming eminent high lamas including the Ganden Tripa, Segyu Khen Rinpoche Geshe Wangdu, Tengye Rinpoche and senior Gyume tantric sangha; FPMT teachers and lamas, such as Yangsi Rinpoche, Khadro-la, Phuntsok Rinpoche, Geshe Sherab from New Mexico, Geshe Tsondu from Malaysia and Osel Rinpoche; great masters from other traditions such as Chokyi Nima Rinpoche and sangha came up from Seto Gompa, and Dilgo Khyentse Yangsi, Khenpo Gyurme Tsultrim, Lama Lungrig Nyima and sangha came up from Shechen Gompa in Boudha. Representatives have come from major and minor monastic institutions in India and Nepal—Mahayana, Vajrayana, and Theravadin—to pray at Rinpoche’s holy body, sponsor prayer sessions and make offerings to the sangha. And so have politicians and other well-known individuals. The respect shown to Rinpoche—and the support and kindness shown to Rinpoche’s sangha—has been moving and constant.
Khenrinpoche Thubten Chonyi and Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche at Kopan Monastery amidst the continual offering of prayers for Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s swift return. April 18, 2023. Photo by Kopan Monastery School.
Yesterday, the fourth week, was no exception. The Namgyal abbot, Thamtog Rinpoche flew from Dharamsala along with accompanying students to offer prayers at Rinpoche’s holy body and sponsor the full day’s puja. Thamtog Rinpoche was a childhood friend of our own precious lama since they were both disciples of Geshe Rabten at a young age. Rinpoche recalled knowing Lama Yeshe, Rinpoche, and Lama Lhundrup well at Buxa and watching as they traveled extensively spreading the pure teachings of the Buddha and especially of Lama Tsongkhapa all around the world. Rinpoche and Thamtog Rinpoche were close friends and during the puja Thamtog Rinpoche offered consolation to all of us grieving disciples with a moving speech in both Tibetan and English which brought many of us to tears.
Also at the puja yesterday was Serkong Dorje Chang Rinpoche who had flown back from a Wesak teaching event in Pokhara in time to attend. And Tsoknyi Rinpoche, another great lama friend of Rinpoche’s came to Kopan with some Tsoknyi nuns to offer prayers at Rinpoche’s holy body and make offerings to the disciples. As we sat in the puja in the main gompa below, we could hear the beautiful chanting of the Tsoknyi nuns in Rinpoche’s apartment above. How can we ever express enough gratitude to these lamas who show kindness and support to us at this time when we need it most?
Tsoknyi Rinpoche with Khen Rinpoche Geshe Chonyi, Kopan Monastery, May 10, 2023. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.
It’s impossible to list here all the visitors high and low, famous and unknown, realized and devoted, local and from distant lands, who have come to visit Rinpoche over the past month, pay respects and offer support to the sangha. And it’s impossible to express enough gratitude.
These next three weeks will see an increased influx of visitors to Kopan as students arrive from around the world to pay respects to Rinpoche before traveling to Dharamsala to offer the long life puja to His Holiness Dalai Lama on May 24. This long life puja was Rinpoche’s holy wish and we can fulfil it. After that, the final days of May will see the culmination of the 49 days of pujas and prayers made with strong longing for Rinpoche to swiftly return.
At this time of heightened awareness of impermanence, Khadro-la advised us from the beginning to focus on bodhicitta, to pray to the Guru and to commit ourselves to fulfilling Rinpoche’s holy wishes. As the lamas are showing us—this is a time to honor Rinpoche’s inexpressible qualities and to support each other with kindness.
May 15, 2023: Serving Sentient Beings Is Serving Rinpoche
It’s Saturday night up at Rinpoche’s apartment and there are 30 plus nuns, monks and lay people on the finishing stretches of a four-hour Vajrayogini self-initiation. Some of the participants come night after night without fail, others are visitors or come when they have time. Outside the sky is clear and the lights of Kathmandu Valley twinkle like earthly stars. Inside the little porch area at the back of the main room— where Rinpoche used to take meals, entertain guests and do prayers and pujas—are a few Western nuns seated around the mandala house. There is no more space in the room where Rinpoche’s holy body is located, numbers have to be restricted due to the limited space—but somehow everyone gets accommodated. The wish to participate in these prayers at this special time in this special place is in everyone’s hearts.
Prayers around the clock at Kopan Monastery for Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s swift return. Photo by Alison Murdoch.
It’s close to midnight when Rinpoche’s attendant comes with a tray to clear away our empty cups. About an hour earlier we were offered a selection of drinks, including a sweet and strong milky tea to keep us all awake, and an hour before that they served warm porridge. In between, money offerings were distributed to those doing prayers.
This is how it is up in Rinpoche’s apartment and how it has been 24 hours a day for the last 30 plus days. Pujas are scheduled continually thoughout the day and night, with short breaks for vacuuming, cleaning up and tending to the offerings, and longer breaks every few days to change the salt or rearrange furnishings. It hasn’t stopped. Hundreds of monks and nuns do prayers and pujas and self-initiations at Rinpoche’s holy body from dawn to dusk and dusk to dawn, usually joined by lay disciples who are resident at Kopan or visiting for the day. Sometimes there are several pujas going on at the same time when high lamas or visiting sangha from other temples gather for prayers in Rinpoche’s living room—the VIP space—whilst the regular schedule continues next door. And all the time a stream of visitors pass through the sacred space to circumambulate Rinpoche’s holy body in its magnificent mandala house, touch their heads to his throne, offer a khata and maybe an envelope, fruit, food, flowers or other gifts, and then file back out again collecting a packet of the salt that has touched Rinpoche’s holy body during the embalming process, some blessed torma and their choice of photo of Rinpoche on the way as holy souvenirs. Nobody leaves empty handed.
All these visitors are offered drinks and snacks by the helper nuns downstairs in the debate courtyard as they arrive. And all the participants at the pujas upstairs are offered a variety of drinks depending on the time of day—hot or cold water, sweet or butter tea, juice—along with snacks and money offerings. It’s an enormous amount of work, requiring nonstop coordination and well-calculated logistics.
Rinpoche’s small kitchen—originally built to cater for Rinpoche, a small entourage and guests—has now been transformed to cope with the huge influx of sentient beings that need to be continuously catered for; and the recently constructed lift up to Rinpoche’s room is now transporting visitors unable to manage the stairs and an endless supply of provisions for the visitors.
I ask the young monk on the night shift at Rinpoche’s apartment how many people pass through daily to pay respects to Rinpoche and he tells me that things have calmed down now to around 50/60 but in the early days it was hundreds and thousands each day for days at a time. Like all mature Kopan monks and nuns he has been offering service since the beginning in addition to his normal schedule of study. He’s enrolled at the Kopan tantric college and not yet 20, but I can see from his appearance that he is kind, patient, responsible and a good human being. He also speaks English well.
This is how it has been at Kopan since Rinpoche went into meditation. So much work, so many things to to be done, so much to be organized. Rinpoche has kept everyone busy with very little time to pause and be sad. There were pujas to be done, high lamas and visitors to be cared for, guests arriving and also a long life puja to be organized for His Holiness the Dalai Lama—in itself an enormous undertaking! Can you imagine?
Lisa Gray, Ven. Namdrol, Paula Chichester, Ven. Sarah Thresher, Nick Ribush, Alison Murdoch, Sushil Grg; Dharma friends following prayers for Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s swift return, May 18, 2023. Photo courtesy of Ven. Sarah Thresher.
Pujas require drinks, food for the participants, torma, offerings, monetary distributions (which means piles of cash notes in Nepal!), texts and on and on. Truckloads of supplies have wound their way up the Kopan road every day and, during the most intense period, a caterer had to be brought in to provide the meals. Every visitor must be cared for. It was not just the Kopan monks and nuns doing prayers, but also sangha and lay people from all over the valley, all over Nepal, India and the world—as overseas visitors flew in from South East Asia, Mongolia, Australia, New Zealand, the Americas, and Europe.
It’s now past midnight and the Vajrayogini puja has come to a close. Outside, a group of young monks is waiting patiently for us to leave so they can begin their two-hour prayer session. Everything is well timed. Before they can enter the room it must be cleaned again and I watch as another of Rinpoche’s attendants vacuums up and down for the umpteenth time today to prepare it. Nearly 12 hours earlier I saw the same attendant at the Chenrezig puja—chanting, offering tsog, showing visitors around the mandala house and directing them take packs of holy salt and a photo as they left the room.
Watching all of this unfold over the past days and weeks, I’m reminded how Rinpoche would always teach that serving sentient beings is the best offering to all the Buddhas. All this service, all this devotion, all this sacrifice—I think Rinpoche would be very happy with how his monks and nuns have stepped up and taken responsibility. Yes there is sorrow and heart-break, yes there are times when the emotions are overwhelming and tears flow, but the work has to continue. That is what Rinpoche would want. And as we pray for Rinpoche to return, serving others is how we embody his teachings and keep them alive.
Ven. Sarah Thresher is an English nun who graduated in 1982 and met the Dharma in Kopan shortly afterwards—taking refuge with Lama Thubten Yeshe. She worked many years as an editor for Wisdom Publications and Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive and has also taught at centers around the world. She ordained with His Holiness Dalai Lama in 1986. For the past five years she has been living in different locations in Nepal.
Meeting with His Holiness the Dalai Lama, April 26, 2023: Venerable Tenpa Choden, Director of Kopan Monastery; Venerable Thubten Kunken, Kopan Office Manager; and four of the five FPMT board members (Khen Rinpoche Geshe Chonyi, Abbot of Kopan; Venerable Roger Kunsang; Karuna Cayton, and Dale Davis).
Dear Friends,
On April 26, two weeks after the sudden passing of our beloved and incomparably kind Guru, Lama Zopa Rinpoche, the FPMT Board was able to have an interview with His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Present for the interview were four of the five Board members, Khen Rinpoche Geshe Chonyi (Abbot of Kopan), Venerable Roger Kunsang, Dale Davis, and Karuna Cayton. Two senior monks from Kopan, Venerable Tenpa Choden, Director of Kopan Monastery; and Venerable Thubten Kunken, Office Manager, were also present.
We are pleased to share a video and translation of our meeting, where His Holiness very clearly offers the important guidance and essential advice we sought. The three areas we sought advice on were concerning Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s reincarnation, how the organization will be led, and advice to the students of Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
While Rinpoche’s passing is beyond comprehension and heartbreaking for many of us, His Holiness offers a bright light of hope and solace.
We kindly request you to read the full translation below and watch the video below, which has a brief simultaneous translation by His Holiness’s translator Tenzin Tsepak.
FPMT Board of Directors
Transcript of the Meeting with FPMT Board of Directors and His Holiness the Dalai Lama, April 26, 2023
His Holiness the Dalai Lama: Lama Zopa Rinpoche was really a trustworthy Dharma friend. He really did his best. I’m now in my mid-eighties and I see myself living another 10-15 years. As Lama Zopa Rinpoche was a close, intimate Dharma friend, from my side I am praying, and have great hope to see a young reincarnation continuing to benefit the Dharma and sentient beings.
According to the occurring signs it seems that I will be able to live over a hundred years. Therefore at that later stage of my life I think I will be able to see the young reincarnation of Lama Zopa Rinpoche as a young child at about this height [His Holiness indicates with his hand at the height of his chest].
Ven. Roger Kunsang: We would like to request Your Holiness to guide us to find the correct reincarnation.
His Holiness: Yes, definitely. First I will do a divination to check whether it is the time now to search for the reincarnation or not. If it indicates that it is the right time to search for the reincarnation, then I’ll do a more refined divination to check as to where to look for the reincarnation – India, Nepal, Tibet, or other countries.
I have fond feelings for dear Rinpoche. He was so loyal and good to me. Therefore, I have the responsibility to find the unmistaken reincarnation of Lama Zopa Rinpoche so that the reincarnation will continue to benefit the Dharma. If the reincarnation of Lama Zopa Rinpoche happens to be naughty I can discipline the child myself! [Laughter]
Ven. Roger: Rinpoche mentioned a number of times that when he passes away there would not be any one teacher to lead the organization. But what he [Lama Zopa Rinpoche] thought was between his office and the FPMT board, some members are here, and the abbot of Kopan Monastery [who is a member of the board], they will lead the organization.
His Holiness: That’s very good. Wonderful.
Ven. Roger: Does His Holiness have any advice for the students of Rinpoche at this time?
His Holiness: My dear friend Lama Zopa Rinpoche, he really took great responsibility for preserving the Dharma and the sangha community. So now it is important to continue to fulfill the wishes Lama Zopa Rinpoche had while he was alive.
From my side I will continuously offer every possible support as if dear Lama Zopa Rinpoche is right beside me.
Tashi Delek, is that all?
Khen Rinpoche Geshe Chonyi: The FPMT board is committed to follow sincerely whatever His Holiness says.
His Holiness: Thank you. Thank you very much.
Well, from my side I don’t have any commands or orders. It is important for you to analyze the facts of a situation. Through your discussions, and after coming to an agreement, you can bring it to me and I can offer my support. I’m fond of democracy. I’ve already relinquished the position of the Dalai Lama holding authority. I have given the power to the Tibetan people. Now the Tibetan administration is run under the parliamentary system.
You have a better understanding and experience of the situation [of the FPMT]. So, first you have good discussions among yourselves then you can ask me and I’ll offer support.
In regards to the reincarnation of Lama Zopa Rinpoche, it is important from your side that you do your investigations. And I also will do from my side. I will do the divinations and when the reincarnation becomes of age it is important to study.
I’ll live for another 15-20 years. As I age it is important that the young ones, such as the reincarnation of Lama Zopa Rinpoche, gradually take on more responsibility.
Video of Meeting with FPMT Board of Directors and His Holiness the Dalai Lama, April 26, 2023
We will continue to send out updates as they become available, and these will be collected on this updates page.
Foundation for the Preservation of Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), is a Tibetan Buddhist organization dedicated to the transmission of the Mahayana Buddhist tradition and values worldwide through teaching, meditation and community service.
Members of the Rabgayling Tibetan settlement offering a butter lamp. Hunsur, south India, April 14, 2023. Photo by Rabgayling Tibetan Settlement Office.
We are happy to share two new photo galleries to visually document some of the prayers and pujas being offered for the swift return of Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
One gallery is photos from Kopan Monastery and Nunnery, including photos from the Kopan group doing prayers in Swayambhunath; the other gallery includes photos from other monasteries and communities in India and Nepal.
We will add to these galleries frequently, so check back often for inspiration and rejoicing.
Prayers for the Swift Return of Lama Zopa Rinpoche – Kopan Monastery & Swayambhunath Stupa:
https://fpmt.org/teachers/zopa/updates-regarding-rinpoche/tributes-and-condolences/prayers-for-the-swift-return-of-lama-zopa-rinpoche-kopan/
Prayers for the Swift Return of Lama Zopa Rinpoche (India, Nepal, and other communities):
https://fpmt.org/teachers/zopa/updates-regarding-rinpoche/tributes-and-condolences/prayers-for-the-swift-return-of-lama-zopa-rinpoche-other-monasteries/
His Eminence Ganden Tri Rinpoche presiding the prayers by the Sera Jey Sangha, April 13, 2023. Photo by Sera Jey Monastery.
Lay people doing daily prayers at Rachen Nunnery, Tsum, Nepal.
Sangha and lay students on pilgrimage from Kopan Monastery to Swayambhu, Nepal, April 23, 2023, to offer prayers for the swift return of Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
Lay people doing daily prayers at Rachen Nunnery, Tsum, Nepal.
As a reminder, we also have created a page dedicated to the tributes and condolences we continue to receive from great lamas, friends, and monastery officials around the world.
We also have resources for those wishing to offer their own prayers for the swift return of Lama Zopa Rinpoche, including A Prayer for the Swift Return of Lama Zopa Rinpoche, composed by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, currently available in seven languages.
We will continue to send out updates as they become available, and these will be collected on this updates page.
Foundation for the Preservation of Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), is a Tibetan Buddhist organization dedicated to the transmission of the Mahayana Buddhist tradition and values worldwide through teaching, meditation and community service.
Kopan monks, nuns and students offering Heruka Lama Chopa with Tsog on the fourteenth day of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s passing. Photo courtesy of Kopan Monastery FB page.
Today we share some essential updates and reminders about important upcoming events.
Long Life Puja for His Holiness the Dalai Lama
The long life puja being offered to His Holiness the Dalai Lama on May 24 in India continues to be a major event for us all, as it is the fulfilment of one of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s holy wishes. We hope that many will be able to participate in this extremely auspicious event in person or via livestream. We will bring you information regarding the livestream details soon.
49th Day after the Passing of Lama Zopa Rinpoche
On May 31, Heruka Lama Chopa with Tsog will be offered at Kopan Monastery on the occasion of the 49th day since Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s passing. All are welcome to join the livestream of this special puja. As a reminder, this livestream of the prayers and pujas happening continuously for Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s swift return is available for all to join: https://www.youtube.com/c/fpmtinc/live
Light of the Path Retreat and Foundation Service Seminar
Due to practical considerations, Kopan Monastery will host the Light of the Path Retreat for the dates and length originally planned which are: September 3 – 17, 2023. Kopan will soon put out an update on this retreat which we will share as it is available. We are happy to share that the Foundation Service Seminar scheduled at Kopan following the retreat will also occur on the dates originally planned: September 21 – 26.
We will continue to send out updates as they become available, and these will be collected on this updates page.
Foundation for the Preservation of Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), is a Tibetan Buddhist organization dedicated to the transmission of the Mahayana Buddhist tradition and values worldwide through teaching, meditation and community service.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche meeting with His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Bodhgaya, India, January, 2023. Photo courtesy of the Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
Words of Praise to His Holiness the Dalai Lama from Lama Zopa Rinpoche
Your Holiness,
Your example of morality in not harming but only benefiting sentient beings is incomparable in this universe.
Your compassion is the source of all sentient beings’ development of the good heart.
Your power is the source of all sentient beings’ happiness and peace.
Your wisdom is the source of all sentient beings’ hope and of opening the Dharma wisdom eye, of learning to discriminate what is right, which is to be practiced, and what is wrong, which is to be abandoned.
If you are not the actual Compassionate-eyed Buddha, there is no other compassionate Buddha guiding us sentient beings.
To you, the wish-granting jewel, embodiment of all the merit field, devotedly with body, speech and mind, I, the students of FPMT and all sentient beings pay homage forever and seek your guidance forever.
Words from the late Lama Zopa Rinpoche, 2022.
FPMT Statement in Support of His Holiness the Dalai Lama
We are deeply saddened by some of the recent media coverage of a short video clip of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama with a young boy interacting with His Holiness during a public event on February 28, 2023.
His Holiness has worked solely and tirelessly for the welfare and benefit of others. His profound spiritual teachings, combined with his warm and affectionate communication style, are a source of deeply precious inspiration.
For Buddhists and non-Buddhists alike, His Holiness is the embodiment of compassion, non-violence, selflessness, and wisdom.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama has been and remains the greatest source of inspiration for the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT).
We share the feelings of sadness and frustration with all those who have been affected by the recent allegations, which are based on an intentionally edited video clip and a lack of understanding of the Tibetan language and culture.
We are also in agreement with the recent statement made by His Eminence Ling Rinpoche on this subject.
His Holiness continues to be a beacon of hope and peace in the world, and for the FPMT organization. We pray for His Holiness’s long life and for the fulfilment of all his wishes.
Foundation for the Preservation of Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), is a Tibetan Buddhist organization dedicated to the transmission of the Mahayana Buddhist tradition and values worldwide through teaching, meditation and community service.
Prayers continue 24 hours a day in front of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s holy body, and also on every inch of Kopan Monastery.
We’re pleased to share this letter from Khenrinpoche Geshe Chonyi, Abbot of Kopan Monastery and member of the FPMT Inc. board. Khenrinpoche has sent this letter, in Tibetan, English, and Chinese for those with a connection to Lama Zopa Rinpoche, on the sad occasion of the seven days since Rinpoche’s passing.
As everyone knows, Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche, in order to free us from the grasping at permanence, has taken the aspect of passing into parinirvana. Undoubtedly, many are deeply concerned and wondering what is happening now. Therefore, I would like to briefly explain the current situation.
Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche was invited to attend a Dharma function in the Tsum region of Nepal. There, several local groups were celebrating the one-hundredth year of declaring the Tsum Valley as a non-violence area and promoting vegetarianism, as well as their formal commitment to continue in the same way for another hundred years. Rinpoche went as requested to grace this function and bestow a Hayagriva initiation to the faithful.
The elevation of this area is 3,700 meters (12,000 feet) above sea level. Due to some signs of altitude sickness, Rinpoche decided to return to Kathmandu and Kopan Monastery earlier than planned. Around 9:30 a.m. on April 13th, sadly, Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche showed the aspect of passing away here at Kopan Monastery. As soon as Rinpoche began his clear light meditation, we informed His Holiness the Dalai Lama who advised that students engage in the practice of Cittamani Tara, recitation of The Essence of Eloquence by Lama Tsonghapa, and perform the self-initiations of Heruka and other deities. Accordingly, all of the disciples and ordained sangha began these practices immediately. Likewise, we have received letters of prayer, condolence, and advice from His Holiness the Dalai Lama, His Holiness the Karmapa, His Holiness Sakya Trichen, and from various other lineage lamas. For this we express our deepest gratitude.
On April 14th, around 10:00 p.m., when monks reached the point in the Guhyasamaja sadhana of the four goddesses evoking the deity to arise from dharmakaya song, Rinpoche arose from his clear, light meditation. This was reported to His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Rinpoche’s other teachers from whom we sought guidance. They advised that, as Lama Zopa Rinpoche has done extensive deeds for the Dharma, and has thousands of disciples from all over the world, it would be good to preserve Rinpoche’s holy body in order that his many disciples can gradually come to pay respects. Therefore, we are now in the process of preserving Rinpoche’s holy body according to traditional practice.
Although in actuality, Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche is already a fully enlightened buddha, in order for all of us disciples to accumulate merit and purify negativities; and for the swift return of an unmistaken reincarnation, for seven days we are performing the following prayers twenty-four hours per day: the self-initiations of Yamantaka, Guhyasamaja, and Heruka, Vajrayogini self-initiation, recitations of the Essence of Eloquence, the three root texts (The Ornament of Clear Realizations, Entrance to Middle, and Treasury of Knowledge), Medicine Buddha puja, Heruka Guru Puja, and others.
During this time, many lamas who were close to Kyabje Zopa Rinpoche and many lay people are continuously coming to pay respects and make offerings. Likewise, we offer thanks to the Great Monastic Seats of Sera, Drepung, Ganden, and the Upper and Lower Tantric Colleges, many other Gelukpa monasteries in Nepal, and other monasteries as well as lay associations who performing prayers in solidarity.
For the entire forty-nine-day period, we will perform the following prayers for twenty-four hours daily: special rituals related to preserving the holy body, Yamantaka and Vajrayogini self-initiations, Guru Puja, recitation of Praise of Dependent Origination, Chanting the Names of Manjushri, the King of Prayers, The Ornament of Clear Realizations, Entrance to Middle, and the swift return prayer composed by His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
Finally, to all faithful disciples who have a connection with Rinpoche, whether direct or indirect, I sincerely request you to come together to fulfill all of Rinpoche’s advices whole heartedly, and complete the unfinished projects that remain until the unmistaken reincarnation of Rinpoche comes and again takes responsibility to continue Rinpoche’s enlightened activities.
ln the future we’ll keep you abreast of developments as they arise.
Geshe Thubten Chonyi, Abbot of Kopan Monastery and FPMT Board Member
Please read the PDF version of Khenrinpoche’s letter:
We recently shared the schedule of current prayers and pujas happening around the clock at Kopan Monastery for Lama Zopa Rinpoche, all are welcome to join the livestream on these continual activities.
We will continue to send out updates as they become available, and these will be collected on this updates page.
Foundation for the Preservation of Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), is a Tibetan Buddhist organization dedicated to the transmission of the Mahayana Buddhist tradition and values worldwide through teaching, meditation and community service.
Khenrinpoche Thubten Chonyi and Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche at Kopan Monastery amidst the continual offering of prayers for Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s swift return. April 18, 2023. Photo by Kopan Monastery School.
Continued Prayers for Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s Swift Return
Prayers and pujas are continuing twenty-four hours a day at Kopan Monastery in front of Rinpoche’s holy body and also in the gompa for Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s swift return. Monasteries, nunneries and FPMT centers around the world also continue with prayers and pujas.
“Every inch of Kopan is in prayers around the clock,” as reported from the monastery. We are pleased to continue to share the livestream of prayers happening (with occasional breaks). You will find it to be much better quality than the stream we offered initially, and all are invited to connect with what is being done at Kopan in this way: https://www.youtube.com/c/fpmtinc/live
Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche, a Nyingma lama very close to Lama Zopa Rinpoche, visited Kopan this morning, joining the prayers in Rinpoche’s room. You can read Chokyi Nyima’s heartfelt letter written upon receiving the news of Rinpoche’s passing. We are happy to share this short video of the prayers happening today, joined by Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche:
https://youtube.com/shorts/J0eBjsY3j2g?feature=share
Tenzin Osel Hita is at Kopan and spoke to students gathered today. Ganden Tri Rinpoche, head of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism, arrived at Kopan today.
This is the current schedule of daily prayers and pujas being offered and livestreamed, according to the local time in Nepal:
- 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. Dung Choe practice by senior Sangha
- 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Yamantaka Solitary Hero Self-Initiation
- 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. various practices (Lamrim Meditation, Tendrel Toepa (In Praise of Dependent Origination), Calling Guru from Afar, Prayers for the Swift Return of Lama Zopa Rinpoche by international students)
- 7:30 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. Vajrayogini Self-Initiation
- 1:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. Guru Puja, Tendrel Toepa (In Praise of Dependent Origination), Manjushri-nama-samgiti (Chanting the Names of Manjushri), King of Prayers, Abhisamayalamkara (Ornament of Clear Realizations), Mulamadhyamakakarika (Root Verses on the Middle Way), Prayers for the Swift Return of Lama Zopa Rinpoche by monks and nuns.
Every seventh day there will also be Heruka Lama Chopa with Tsog at Kopan Monastery. Those dates are: April 19 and 26; May 3, 10, 17, and 24; and May 31.
Prayers around the clock continue at Kopan Monastery for Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s swift return. Photo by Alison Murdoch.
Important Events
On the forty-ninth day after Rinpoche stopped breathing, which is May 31, Heruka Lama Chopa with Tsog will be offered at Kopan Monastery.
Before that, we have the very significant long life puja offered to His Holiness the Dalai Lama on May 24 in India. We’re hoping that many will come to this long life puja (or watch it livestreamed), as this puja will be exceptionally poignant and significant as it is a fulfilment of Rinpoche’s holy wishes.
On Khenrinpoche Geshe Chonyi’s advice, we’re planning to amend the already scheduled Light of the Path Retreat at Kopan (currently scheduled for September 3-17, 2023), and make it a month to come together for focused study and celebration of Rinpoche’s teachings, giving the opportunity to go deeper into and actualize the teachings Rinpoche has so kindly given us. We have such a wealth of teachings from Rinpoche, this will be a special opportunity to actualize them together. There will be senior FPMT registered teachers leading meditations and Khenrinpoche, Ven. Roger Kunsang, and others sharing life stories. It is likely that students will be able to come for any period of time within the Light of the Path month, depending on available accommodation at Kopan.
Details on this Light of the Path Retreat are still being worked out, but we wanted to offer these updates now so that you can have all this in mind for planning what you would be able and most like to join.
(Please note: This means that the Foundation Service Seminar that was scheduled at Kopan in September will be postponed).
Advice for FPMT Centers and Students
The following practices are suggested by Khenrinpoche Geshe Chonyi for FPMT centers and students to do at this time. These are practices to be offered as one wishes, not everything here has to be done:
- Lama Chopa and Tsog Offering – every day, or every seventh day
- Eight Verses of Thought Transformation
- In Praise of Dependent Origination translation by Thubten Jinpa | translation by Gavin Kilty
- Chanting the Names of Noble Manjushri
- King of Prayers
- Prayers for the Swift Return of Lama Zopa Rinpoche by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, and other distinguished lamas
Swift Return Booklet
We are delighted that so many centers and students have made quick use of the booklet containing swift return prayers for Lama Zopa Rinpoche from His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Khandro Kunga Bhuma, and others. We have made a recent update to this booklet and all are encouraged to download this most recent version: A Prayer for the Swift Return of Lama Zopa Rinpoche by His Holiness the Dalai Lama with additional prayers by other distinguished lamas
We have also added various translations as well as the standalone of His Holiness’s swift return prayer; and we are adding translations of the other prayers in the booklet as standalones as they become available.
(Please note: This collection of swift return prayers is a work in progress and updated versions of the booklet will be released. Our aim has been to make these prayers accessible as soon as they are available. Further prayers may be added to subsequent editions of the collection and edits made to existing prayers.)
News, Updates, Resources, Tributes
As a reminder, we have created the Updates Regarding Lama Zopa Rinpoche page, where all news and updates we have shared are and will be collected. On that page we’ve also added a link to translations to updates available, with our thanks to the translation services.
We have also made available a page sharing tributes and condolences from great lamas, friends, and monastery officials around the world.
From our Tributes and Condolences page we have recently added a link to an online student tribute page created by Amitabha Buddhist Centre, Singapore, for students to add their messages, tributes, and memories about Lama Zopa Rinpoche. We will share links to other online remembrance pages from FPMT centers as we receive them.
Please continue trying to fulfil Rinpoche’s holy wishes, especially to practice impermanence and bodhicitta in the context of the lamrim. Fulfilling the gurus’ holy wishes is a very important part of inviting the guru to return.
May Rinpoche be reborn as quickly as possible in a place where he can be very quickly recognized and be of most benefit to sentient beings.
Big love,
Your friends at FPMT International Office
We will continue to send out updates as they become available, and these will be collected on this updates page.
Foundation for the Preservation of Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), is a Tibetan Buddhist organization dedicated to the transmission of the Mahayana Buddhist tradition and values worldwide through teaching, meditation and community service.
The main gompa at Kopan Monastery, April 15, 2023.
Today we share some important updates and newly available resources. Thank you for your continued prayers, offerings of support, condolences, and kindness.
The Embalming Process
The embalming process for Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s holy body has begun. We have a short video to share of the prayers taking place around Rinpoche’s holy body at the start of the embalming process.
Regarding the lamas helping to take care of the embalming of Rinpoche’s holy body, the “Nyingma lama” we referred to in yesterday’s update is one of Rinpoche’s teachers, Lama Ngawang Chokyung. We are exceptionally grateful for his guidance. Lama Ngawang Chokyung is very experienced in this method, and supervised the embalming of His Holiness Trulshik Rinpoche. The “ex-abbot of Gyumed” that we referred to is the present abbot of Segyü Dratsang, Khen Rinpoche Losang Wangdu. We are very grateful for all his care and assistance at this time.
Swift Return Prayer by His Holiness the Dalai Lama
With great rejoicing we have received a prayer which His Holiness the Dalai Lama composed for the swift return of Lama Zopa Rinpoche. This is available in English and Tibetan and has a particularly poignant colophon. For the convenience of students, we have compiled His Holiness’s prayer (starting on page 5), along with a small collection of additional prayers for Rinpoche’s swift return, composed spontaneously by other distinguished lamas with whom Rinpoche had a connection in this lifetime. It will be updated as we receive new compositions. Please download Prayer for the Swift Return of Lama Zopa Rinpoche by His Holiness the Dalai Lama with additional prayers by other distinguished lamas. This booklet is very user friendly with each prayer bookmarked and linked to from the contents page.
Prayers Offered, April 16
The following prayers are being offered today, April 16, at Kopan Monastery:
- Vajrasattva bath offering
- Thirteen Deities Yamantaka self-initiation offered by Rinpoches, Khenrinpoche, Gyumed senior monks and Kopan lama gyupas
- Extensive Medicine Buddha puja offered by general assembly of monks and nuns
- Bodhicharyavarara recitations offered by senior nuns
- All Kopan monks and nuns together with all monks of the Gelug monasteries in Nepal are gathering in the afternoon to recite prayers
- Lay devotees come in various group to make offerings and prayers
- All monks and nuns together with international students are reciting Madyamulakarika in the evening
- More pujas will continue all night
You can watch a livestream of the continued prayers and pujas at Kopan.
Tributes and Condolences
We have received many tributes to Lama Zopa Rinpoche, and messages of support and condolence, including some prayers and practices offered for Rinpoche’s swift return, from lamas and monasteries around the world. You can read these on our new Tributes and Condolences page, which we’ve added to our Updates Regarding Lama Zopa Rinpoche page.
The monks of Sera Je Monastery gathering to offer prayers for the swift return of Lama Zopa Rinpoche. Photo courtesy of Sera Je Monastery.
Ongoing Practice and Dedication
Please continue trying to fulfil Rinpoche’s holy wishes, especially to practice impermanence and bodhicitta in the context of the lamrim. Fulfilling the gurus’ holy wishes is a very important part of inviting the guru to return.
May Rinpoche be reborn as quickly as possible in a place where he can be very quickly recognized and be of most benefit to sentient beings.
Big love,
Your friends at FPMT International Office
We will continue to send out updates as they become available, and these will be collected on this updates page.
Foundation for the Preservation of Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), is a Tibetan Buddhist organization dedicated to the transmission of the Mahayana Buddhist tradition and values worldwide through teaching, meditation and community service.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche in Nepal, March 27, 2023. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.
On April 14 at 10 p.m. Nepal time, blood came from Rinpoche’s left nostril, signaling that Rinpoche had ended his meditation.
The room was then made cold to maintain the holy body, and this morning the holy body was packed in ice.
The embalming process is the next step.
Khandro Kunga Bhuma has advised that today (April 15) is a dakini day, and that 7: 30 p.m. Nepal time today is the special time of the dakini day that fits for Rinpoche’s holy body to begin the embalming process. Khandro Kunga Bhuma will continue to take care – she is now in Nepal.
Two lamas are there who will be in charge of the embalming process, which may take several months. They are Geshe Wangdu, ex-Gyumed abbot; and a Nyingma lama (from whom Lama Zopa Rinpoche had taken transmissions), and who looked after the embalming of Trulshik Rinpoche. Ven. Roger will keep us informed about the process and timeline and we will continue to share updates on this process.
His Excellency Ling Rinpoche suggested that Rinpoche’s holy body be embalmed (rather than cremated) because Lama Zopa Rinpoche has so many students and is so widely known, as then people can come and pay their respects to Rinpoche’s holy body—it will become an object of pilgrimage at Kopan. As previously mentioned, Ven. Roger requested His Holiness the Dalai Lama to comment on this suggestion, and His Holiness advised that this is a very good way forward.
Pujas continue to go on constantly everywhere at Kopan: everyone in the monastery and nunnery is participating. The livestream of the prayers by Rinpoche’s room is continuing.
Additionally, groups are coming from other monasteries to do their own prayers in the gompa at Kopan in their own way for Rinpoche. We are making offerings to them.
Many, many monasteries are also doing pujas and prayers for Rinpoche in their own gompas. We will make offerings to them also.
Please continue trying to fulfil Rinpoche’s holy wishes, especially to practice impermanence and bodhicitta in the context of the lamrim. Fulfilling the gurus’ holy wishes is a very important part of inviting the guru to return.
We are delighted to share that we just received the swift return prayer composed by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, in Tibetan, which is downloadable from the Updates Regarding Lama Zopa Rinpoche page. We will make it available in English as soon as possible.
We are also very happy to share the swift return prayer composed by Khandro Kunga Bhuma, in Tibetan and with a quick translation into English, also now downloadable from the Updates Regarding Lama Zopa Rinpoche page.
We rejoice in the swift return prayers kindly composed by other lamas also. We will add them to the Updates Regarding Lama Zopa Rinpoche page as soon as possible.
May Rinpoche be reborn as quickly as possible in a place where he can be very quickly recognized and be of most benefit to sentient beings.
Big love,
Your friends at FPMT International Office
We will continue to send out updates as they become available, and these will be collected on this update page.
Foundation for the Preservation of Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), is a Tibetan Buddhist organization dedicated to the transmission of the Mahayana Buddhist tradition and values worldwide through teaching, meditation and community service.